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Sarah's room was a mess. She had books and papers all over her desk, and toys were scattered across the floor of her room. There were clothes stuffed under her bed, and her dresser drawers were so crammed with things that she almost couldn't open them. Now her assignment was due, and it was missing. She looked everywhere in her backpack and room, but it was nowhere to be found.
Be responsible.
James was a person everyone seemed to love. He went out of his way to help anyone that needed help. If someone dropped something, he was there to help pick it up. If a new kid came to school, he made sure to include that person at recess. Then one day, James was playing soccer and broke his leg. He came to school on crutches, but carrying his backpack and band instrument everywhere was difficult. The funny thing was that no matter where he went, everyone wanted to give James help.
It’s good to be caring.
Molly got a brand new puppy from the pound. She named him Max. Molly's parents said she could have a dog if she cared for it. So Molly fed Max and gave him water each day. She played with him and brushed him too. The only thing she forgot to do, was to close the back fence when he went outside one day. That was the day Max got lost, and it was the hardest day Molly had ever experienced.
Be sure you’re responsible for a task before starting.
Trevor stood at the edge of the mountain and looked down. He knew how dangerous a fall would be, but he made up his mind that he would have to carefully climb down a little to reach his sister, who had slipped a few seconds before. No matter how much Trevor's heart raced, he knew that his sister was in trouble and that she needed him.
Bravery overcomes fear.
As Alice walked down the sidewalk to school, she noticed that Ryan dropped a twenty-dollar bill without noticing it. As he continued walking to school, Alice bent down and picked up the twenty- dollar bill. She imagined all the things she might spend it on and how fun it would be to go shopping with her friends. Then she thought about Ryan and how he would feel when he found the money missing. Sighing, Alice hurried to catch up to Ryan and give him his money back.
Honesty is the best policy.
Jack looked at Ethan and knew his family was well off. From the expensive tennis shoes he wore to the fancy car his mom picked him up in, Jack could tell that Ethan's family never had to hear, “Sorry, it’s too expensive,” or “We can’t afford that right now.” Jack wished he could have the kinds of things that Ethan had, but he knew it would never happen. Every time he saw Ethan, he wished they could trade places.
Money can’t buy happiness.
From the time Alexis was eight years old, she dreamed of being a dentist. She decided to study science like never before. After high school graduation, she went to college and then to dental school. She studied many nights until she almost fell asleep, and she often gave up a chance to do something fun if she had a test the next day. Finally, Alexis became a dentist and had the life she had once imagined.
Working hard pays off.
Elliot could feel the anger rising in him. He wanted to go to a friend's house for a birthday party, but his mom asked him to stay home and watch his little brother. Elliot stormed downstairs to talk to his mom about it again, but he only got the same answer. Elliot was so mad that he ran upstairs and slammed the door to his room, knocking a family picture off the wall. The picture fell on the wooden floor with a crash, and glass went everywhere. Now he not only had to miss the party but he was also grounded for a week.
Overreacting isn’t helpful.
Mark was the new kid in school, and he mostly kept to himself. He was born with a large birthmark on his face that made him feel self-conscious, so he often thought avoiding people was easier than being rejected by them. Tyler was in Mark’s class. Of course, he noticed Mark’s birthmark, but he also saw that Mark never played at recess but just sat alone under a tree until the bell rang. Tyler decided to invite Mark to join him and his friends in a basketball game.
Be kind to others.
Samantha hated the fact that her parents moved the family in the middle of the school year. She had no friends at school and none in the neighborhood either. Her only sister left for college the year before, so she felt all the more alone. Samantha retreated into her bedroom each day and wrote poetry in her journal to pass the time. She wondered what it would be like to have a real friend.
Being lonely is hard.
Marco noticed the teenager walking down the street. He took in his dark black hair, black fingernails, black clothing, and his multiple piercings. An older woman was also walking down the street with a floral dress, gray hair wrapped in a bun, and wearing glasses. The older woman was carrying a grocery bag when it slipped out of her hands and fell to the ground. Marco was surprised to see the teenager immediately rush to help the woman pick up her groceries.
Don't judge others by their appearance.
Everyone wore jeans and T-shirts to school except Natalie. Natalie loved dresses...fancy dresses with glitter and flowers and bows. Natalie not only wore dresses to school each day, but she coordinated her outfits with jewelry and accessories and, best of all, shoes to match! Natalie sometimes got teased for dressing that way but didn’t care. She loved dresses, and no one was going to tell her otherwise.
Always be true to yourself.
Connor loved animals and started a pet-sitting service when he was ten. Whenever a neighbor went out of town, Connor cared for that person’s animals. He fed each animal, walked the dogs, and cleaned up after them. Now Connor was eighteen, taking care of neighborhood pets and saving his earnings for about eight years. All the years of caring for pets had finally paid off. That afternoon, he would buy a new sports car with his earnings.
Hard work and dedication bring success.
Sophia and Bella became friends when their mothers introduced them at the age of four in preschool. Both of them had shared many important life events over the years, including their marriages (Bella to Evan and Sophia to Hector), the birth of their children, and, more recently, the birth of their grandchildren. They each took comfort in knowing that whatever came their way in life, they would always care about each other.
Friends can bring happiness.
Jax turned off the light and closed the door to the lab. He had been working that day, as he had for many days before, trying to perfect a new type of ice cream container that wouldn't allow the ice cream to start melting until it was opened. Jax had worked on this project each day for the past two years and was determined to keep going. Each time he tried one type of material that failed, he felt he was one step closer to his goal. Maybe tomorrow would be the day it finally worked.
Christina's life wasn't easy. Her dad died when she was only two, and her mom had to work long hours to support Christina and her three brothers. One of Christina’s brothers was in a wheelchair and needed extra help throughout the day. Christina believed that she had a purpose and never veered from it. She wanted to be a doctor to help people like her brother. With strength and with help from those around her, Christina was able to make her dreams come true.
You can overcome difficult situations and succeed.
Maya lived in a war zone. At night she listened to guns firing, and she prayed that her small house would not be hit. She wondered what it would be like to never worry about having a war close by. She wondered what it would feel like to have a neighborhood where you could walk freely. Several months passed, and Maya heard that the two sides had come to an agreement. The war was over! Maya's heart felt like leaping out of her chest. Now she could live in peace.
Things will get better.
The Talent Show had arrived, and as Jackie stood behind the stage curtains, her heart had never beaten so fast. She looked at the piano on the stage, and her mouth got dry just seeing it. How could she perform in front of all her friends? What if she missed a note or two? What if she even forgot the whole song? Jackie's name was called, and she walked on stage and played her piece beautifully.
Be brave and courageous.
The vase was on the floor, and it was broken. There was no denying that. Mom asked Taylor what had happened, and since she was afraid that she would get into trouble, she lied and said that her brother had broken the vase. Even though her brother denied it, Taylor’s parents believed her and grounded her brother for horsing around in the house. Watching her brother be punished daily for something Taylor did, made her feel guilty. She knew that she had to tell her parents the truth about what really happened.
Honesty is the best policy.
There were only six swings on the elementary school playground, and every day, the same six kids would rush out to get them first. They would swing and swing and swing until the bell rang, leaving a small line of kids frustrated that they never got a turn. One day the principal noticed what was happening and asked the six kids to meet in her office. The principal asked them to find a solution for the swings that would make things better. The next day, the teachers announced that in the spirit of making things more equal for everyone, each child would get a few minutes on the swings, and then the next kids in line would have a turn.
Fairness is important.